Foundation of Melbourne - Exploration

Exploration

The south-east coast of the Australian continent was discovered by a series of navigators, mostly operating from Sydney. Bass Strait, the passage between the Australian mainland and Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania), was discovered by George Bass in 1797, who sailed as far west as Western Port. Other navigators included James Grant in 1800. In 1802 John Murray in the Lady Nelson was the first to sail into Port Phillip, but he did not reach the northern end of the bay. He was followed shortly after by Matthew Flinders. In January 1803, Charles Robbins and Charles Grimes in the schooner Cumberland explored the whole of the bay, and found the mouth of the Yarra River, on which they rowed as far as Dights Falls at Collingwood. In October 1803 a convict settlement was established at Sullivan Bay at the mouth of Port Phillip, but this was abandoned and relocated to Van Diemens Land in January 1804.

The Hume and Hovell expedition passed just to the north of what is now Melbourne in December 1824, before reaching Port Phillip at Corio Bay. Other than the escape of convict William Buckley, it is the only recorded visit by Europeans between 1804 and 1835.